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VANCOUVER — Ryan Kesler is back. He will play tonight against the Phoenix Coyotes (7 p.m., TSN, Team 1040) and he won't have to play on crutches either because his broken right foot has healed.

The return of the Canucks' second-line centre is somewhat of a surprising development as he hasn't participated in a full team practice since bowing out of the lineup six weeks ago. But everything is different in this lockout-shortened season where practices are few and far between.

“The foot doesn't hurt and I'll play myself into shape,” Kesler said today. “We don't practise much down the stretch so this is what we're going to do. It's exciting. I'm not expecting to come in and be a saviour. I'm coming in to find my game and help my team.”

The “play-into-shape” plan was confirmed by head coach Alain Vigneault.

“Ryan has been off skates for quite some time but, like they used to do in the old days, we're going to play him into shape,” said the coach. “We don't have the luxury of a lot of practices so we're going to, at the beginning, limit his ice time a little bit. We're going to play him on a regular line and, hopefully, the more games he gets in, the better he's going to be down the road for us.”

Kesler, who has missed the last 19 games, will start on a line with wingers Mason Raymond and Zack Kassian. According to Vigneault, he will not kill penalties or appear on the power play.

“I'm going to hold myself back tonight in using him,” added AV.

The Canucks’ other lines at the morning skate had the Sedin twins with Alex Burrows, Derek Roy between Chris Higgins and Jannik Hansen and a fourth unit comprised of Andrew Ebbett, Max Lapierre and Dale Weise.

On defence, Keith Ballard (foot) will return and play right side on the third pairing with Andrew Alberts. Chris Tanev has a sore right leg after being run into the end boards Saturday by Calgary's Tim Jackman during the first period. Tanev, who will miss his first game of the season, is out day-to-day, reported Vigneault.

The Coyotes have not been a juggernaut on the road this, winning just four times in 17 outings heading into tonight's game. One of those four victories occurred at The Rog — 4-2 on Feb. 26. Since then, Phoenix has managed just a single road win in eight tries.

Overall, they are 4-8-5 away from Jobing.com Arena and have been outscored 52-37. They are also fighting for their playoff lives and enter tonight's match ninth in the Western Conference, three points behind eighth-place Detroit.

The Coyotes have won three in a row, all on home ice, but they are also without veteran forwards Steve Sullivan, Raffi Torres and Matthew Lombardi, whom they traded away at last Wednesday's deadline.

“They have been really good in their last few games,” Vigneault said of the 'Yotes. “Even though they traded away a few of their players, they have balance on their four lines and their defencemen are always up in the rush and they've got one of the best goaltenders in the league. That's why they're in the playoff hunt. They're like us. We're all fighting for points and to get in. I expect a really strong game from them tonight.”

ICE CHIPS: The Canucks have won five straight at home, outscoring their opponents 16-5 … New Canucks centre Derek Roy has had a tough start in the faceoff circle, going 9-for-27 in his first two games ... The Coyotes figure to have a huge advantage in the dot as they rank third in the league in faceoffs at 52.7 per cent while the Canucks are 28th at 47 per cent ... Referees for tonight's game are Marc Joanette and Kyle Rehman.

INJURIES: The Canucks will be without LW David Booth (ankle) and D Chris Tanev (leg). The Coyotes will be missing D Zbynek Michalek (ankle).

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